Cotton-picker.



D. M. BAILEY. COTTON PICKER. APPLIoATIoN Hmm. un. 2v, 1909.

havin ai. BMLEY, eEAWELMNG-On Kansas, Assronon or onE-roUn'rn 'ro JAY r. 'EHOMPSQN AND oNEfroUnmH To wILLiAM A. nennen, or WELLINe'roN, Kansas.

correu-Honne- ,To @ZZ whom it may concern:

'of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a manually ,operated cotton Dicker which can be carried about the field y the operator with- -fnnt kfatigue and which will .enable him to pick-a much-greater quantity of cotton in a givenutime than could be picked by hand.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive cotton picker which enables the operator to stand in an u right position while picking the cotton lan which operates in an effectivemanner to remove al1 ofthe cotton fibers from thevarions bolls to which it is applied.

' For a full understanding of the invention ,andA the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and vthe means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, .in which: -Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton picker embodying the invention, a portion'of Athe sackin which the cotton is collected, be-

ing broken away. lFig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through the end ofthe picker on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket at the forward end of the stock. Fig., is a perspective view ofthe boll catcher hereinafter specifically described.

' Corresponding and like parts are referred to 'in the following description and indicated in all the views of the 'drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the stock which is gradually tapered in widthfrom the rear end thereof to the forward end. A handle 2 is applied to the rear end of 'the stock and projects upwar 'ly above the same, while the bracket 8 isse'cured to the forward end of the stock, the bracket being formed with a forked end between the arms of which a guide roller l- -is journaledn Passing around 'this guide roller is a picking belt 5, one end of the belt extending along ,the upper edge of the stock and having the extremity thereof secured toaeoil springe, while the opposite end of lset screws 11.

l p Specicatxm of Letters Batent. Patenten; Sept. 28, Ttig?. Application filed April 27, 1959. Serial No. 492,521.

the picking belt extends under the stock and terminates in a handle T. One end of the coil spring 6 is connected to the. upwardly projecting portion of the handle at the rear end of the stock while the handle e" of the picking belt is connected by a vcord 8 or a similar flexible member' to the lower portion of the handle Q. T he spring .(3 non mally holds the picking belt at one limit of its movement, and when it is desired to move the picking belt against` the 'actionof the spring it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 7 and pull upon the same.

As shown on the drawing, the bracket B is formed with a pair of metallic straps which are secured to `oppositeJ sides of the stock 1, the forward ends of the straps being deflected inwardly and secured to each other at the end of the stock as indicated at 3, and then extended outwardly inopposite directions at 3h and forwardly in a parallel relation at 3C. Plates 9 are secured to the inner faces of the portions 3C of the straps, the said portions constituting the forked end of the bracket 3, and these plates are formed.. with the dove-tailed or undercut grooves 9 within which blocks 10 are slidably mounted. The guide roller 4 is jonrnaled upon the blocks y10 and may be moved in and out as desired by moving the blocks within -the grooves 9a, the said blocks being clamped in an adjusted position by means of lThe rear ends of the metallic straps of which the bracket 3 is formed, are extended outwardly at 3 and then rearwardly at 3e, a casing 12 which is carried by the forward end of the stock being secured to these portions 3e of the straps and also to the portions 3C. rlQlie forward end of the casing l2 is open to admit ofthe picker be ing applied to the cotton bolls, while` the bottom 12a of the casing is pivoled at its `forward end as indicated at 13 and is mounted to swing downwardly. The rear end ofv the bottom 12a is curved downwardly and a bag 14- or similar receptacle in which to collect the cotton being picked, has the mouth thereof secured to the rear and lower 'portion of the casing, the said bag being also secured to the handle 2. The portion of the picking belt 5 which is normally held within the upper portieri of the casmgby means of the spring 6, is provided r`ith vthe metallic or other bristles 15 the extremities of which ice . rearwardly inclined teeth 16.

When the open end of the casing has been 4applied to a cotton boll, a pull is exerted upon the handle 7 vand the picking belt drawn around the uide roller 4. The bristles upon the picking belt then engage the cotton within the boll and carry it into the lower` portion of the casing 12. As soon as the handle 7 is released, the spring l6 draws the picking belt back to its original position, the cotton fibers previously carried into the lower portion of the casing being retained therein by means of the teeth 16 and thereby prevented from being carried back by the' pickingbelt. Upon the next operation of the belt the cotton thus held in the casing is forced through the rear end thereofinto the bag 14 in which it is collected.

It will thus be obvious that I have provided a cotton picking device which can be readily applied to the various cotton bolls and will operate in an elfective manner to withdraw the cotton therefrom, the operator being enabled at all times -to stand in an upright position.

yFor the purpose of catching bolls which are in an unfavorable condition to be caught readily with the parts of the device hereinbefore described, I have provided a boll catcher which in the present embodiment of the invention comprises two rods 17, of wire' or the like, arranged on opposite sides of the stock 1, and' passed at their forward ends through eyes 18 secured to opposite sides of the casing 12. The forward ends of the rods 1J are bentupwardly and slightly rearwardly as indicated at 19. The rods 1T are passedat their rear ends through preferably metallic straps 20 secured to the stock l, at the opposite sides of the longitudina'lly extending slot V21, formed in the rear end of the stock, and a spring 22 is mounted in said slet and secured .at oneend to the stock, Whlle the other end of the spring is connected to the looped rear end 23 of thei boll catcher. This rear end passes into the handle 2, and it is therefore obvious that the -at the front end and may be thrust' for- Wardly by simply relaxing the fingers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as 'new is:

1. In a cotton picker, the combination of a stock, a guide roller upon the stock, a picking belt passing around the guide roller,

means for operating-the picking belt, a cas-- ing carried by the stock and inclosing the picking belt, the bottom of the casing being mounted to swing outwardly, and teeth carried by the said bottom of the casing for removing the cotton from the picking belt.

' 2. A device of the character described,

comprising'a stock, picking devices carried by said stock, the stock being formed at itsI rear end with a slot,'boll catching rods arranged on oppositesides of said stock and connected therewith for a reciprocatil g movement, the rods being provided witli/zi looped rear end, for the purpose specified and a spring mounted in said slot :und` secured to the stock and also to the loope'd end of said rod. f

In testimony whereof I aliix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. BAILEY. lVitnesses J. F. THOMPSON, Y lV. A. HARPER. 

